Forming apparatus



Aug. 8, 1933. R. A. sHlPLEY FQRMING APPARATUS Filed June 20, 1931 2Sheets-Sheet l l ENTOR Aug 8, 1933. R. A. sHlPLEY FORMING APPARATUSFiled June 20, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y50 Figure 4 is a perspective view4of Patented` -Aug. 8, 1933 v ORMING APPARATUS Royv A. Shipley,Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Na` Ltional Fireprooing'` Corporation,

Pa., a Corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 20, 1931.

Pittsburgh,

serial Nq.- '545,730'

comme.V (C1.` 25p-39)v f This invention relates broadly to formingapparatus, and more particularlyto apparatus for use in forming workablemateriaLsuch', for exam#` ple, asgceramic material in the .green` state.

I i It relates still more particularly to forming api d paratus adaptedfor use in formingdthe ends of conduit'sections. ,v The inventionfurther relates to `forming apparatus particularly adapted and intendedto 1o cooperate with anextremityof a conduitsection,

such, for example, as a length of extruded ceramic material in the greenstate, to provide (thereon a` generally longitudinally Vextendingprojection adapted to intert with `acornplementarily shaped vextremityof an adjacent section to provide a strong, self-supporting conduit -v Iprovide forming apparatus, comprising guide means `for cooperation withasurface of a conduit section to guide the forming apparatusin movey"Y0-ment relatively to the conduit section, and, shaping means connectedwith the `guide means and effective upon such relative movement forshaping an end of the conduit section. I furtherv provide formingapparatus, comprising a head having guiding means ,connected therewith,and shaping means connected with the head and ex-y tending below thesame for shaping material upon guided movementof the forming apparatus.I Other objects `and advantages of the invention v will become apparentas the following description of certain present preferredembodimentsthereof proceeds. V

In `the accompanying drawings I have shown certain present preferredembodimentsv of the invention, wherein i' 4 l Figure 1 is a longitudinalcentral cross-sectional view-through a portion of a length of extrudedceramicmaterialprovided with a central duct;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vcentral cross-sec- 4' 40 tional view throughportions of a pairof conduit sections having adjacent extremities ofcomplementary shape, and showing such sections in posi# tions tobe'moved toward one anotherinto in` l ahforming tool, such as,y that ofFigure, shown in cooperative `relationship with anfext-remity: of aconduitlength for shaping suchextremity, Aa'portion of the conduitlengthbeingcut away;

a somewhat different operation, a portion of the headof the tool beingcut away for; the sake of clearness;` i

FigureV 6 is Va view similar `to Figure 3l `showingV similar to thatshown in Figure 4 but adapted for a'forming tool, such as that oflFigurek5,.in cooperative relationship with a ,conduit length;

Figurev'l is a fragmentary topplan view,-with va portion cut away, ofthevforming tool-shown in Figure 5; and Y one of the shaping devices, j

' Referring now more particularly to thel'drawings, Figure l shows incentral longitudinal vcrosssection fa portion of a` length 2 of extrudedceramicv materialjust as itA comes from the ex- A trusion die and inthegreen or generally plastic` state. .The length is of generally-octagonalgexternal cross-section, as indicated -inUFigure 4, and isproyided centrallyfthereof with a llongi-k tudinallyextending duct 3.

In the extrusion processrthe green ceramicma-Y terial is forced throughardie and emerges in a straight continuous length o f substantially uni-Vform cross-section, such as the length shown in Figure 1. t

The iirststep in'the'formation ofy conduit secl sistency that they maybe handled Without substantial vdamage thereto, but the green ceramicmaterial isreadily. workable and can be easily'cut andfshaped.After'cutting theV extruded length into the pieces mentioned, Ipreferably shape the ends ofthe Vpieces by means of suitable Vformingapparatus `so as to produce generally similar con,.- duit rsections therespective ends of which intert on being-placed together, whereby `tostrengthen and assist in maintaining the integrity of 'the conduit thusformed. l.

I- prefer to `form one extremity of eachconduit section as shown at theleft-hand side`v of Figure Y 2- and the opposite extremity as shownatthe right-handside of such iigure,alth`ough, if d esired, both ends ofa section maybe similarly shaped and may cooperate with anlend of vanadjacent section shaped complementarily.Y The conduit-sectionextremityshown at the left-hand :side of Figure 2 isformed ,at the' endV of apiece cut as-above `described from the extruded length by removing agenerally ring-shaped mass; `ofthe @0.5. Figureis a fragmentaryperspective viewof 2, and the respective ends are thus formed ofcomplementaryl shape and are adapted to be moved togetherintointerfitting relationship, the taper of the respective recesses andprojections enabling easy and precise'centering. As the respectivetapers are at the same angle and the depth of the recess inone-extremity is'substantially equal to the length of the projection onVthe other, the two extremities when pressed together lform a conduitwhose Y internal and external cross-sections are substantially constantin spite Not only'does this provisionassist in strengthening theconduit, but it renders far simpler 'the' assembly of the sections thanthe prior-method of utilizing ydowel pins in holes provided in theextremities of theV respectivel sections.

`When the-'conduit'is used for carrying electric conductors the amountof protection and insula-y tion afforded at the joints is precisely thesame as throughout the bodies of the sections and rno enlarged radiallyprojecting portions arenecessary. The joints may, if desired, becemented or taped.-

The shaping of the ends of the sections may be performedeither by handor by machinery, For

thev sake of vsimplicity I have shown'in the drawings a pair ofhandtools, one for shaping oneend`V of a preferred vtype of sectionfandthe other for shaping the other end. In Figures 3 and 4.is shown a toolfor shaping a conduit section extremity as shown at the right-hand sideof Figure 2, and in Figures 5, 6, 7 and Y8 is shown a tool for shaping aconduit section extremity as shown at the left-hand side of Figure 2. Y

Referring now more particularly to Figures 3 and 4, the forming'orshaping tool4 comprises ahead 4 which is generallyat and withwhich yisconnected substantially centrally thereof and extending substantiallyperpendicularly therefromY a generally cylindrical guiding portion 5having a smooth exterior adapted to snugly fit within an extremity of aconduit duct whereby to guide the tool for generally rotatable movementwith respect thereto; lConnected with the opposite face of the head 4 isa handle 6 suitable for manual operation for rotating the tool withrespect Yto the duct. Y

The under portion of the head 4 outside the guiding portion 5 issubstantially nat and smooth and the head is provided at substantiallyequal intervals circumferentiallyV thereof with notches or openings 7,as shown in Figure 4. @Connected with the head atv each of such openingsand extending generally downwardly and circumferentially therethrough isa shaping device 8. Such device is'made of strip metal bent in themanner shown and having a more or less sharp forward redge 9. l

vThe ceramic material of kwhich the conduit section is made is, as abovementioned, plastic and easily workable in the green state although it iscompressed suiciently to offer rm guiding resistance to the formingtool.The guiding portion 5 ofthe tool i'i seferably made so as to'fit snuglybut not tightly within the duct inthe Aconduit section in such mannerthat'there is no substantial lateral play. The portion 5 is made long'enoughy 'so that it engages within .the yduct throughout a longitudinaldistance sufficient to prevent tilting cf the tool. Furthermore, theguiding portion assists in supporting the green ceramic material fromwithin and preventing the duct wall from becoming deformed during theforming operation. v f

The extremity of the guiding portion 5 of the Atool is outwardlytapered, as shown at 10, to enable the tool to be easilyvinserted intothe duct.

`One of the cut portions of the extruded vlength of ceramic material isplaced on end and the contact with theV remaining portionlof the endsurface whereupon further movement of the tool4 axially of the extrudedlength is prevented; Slight further rotation of the'tool smooths offthecut surfaces and the end of the extruded lengthassumes the formshown-atY the right-hand side of Figure 2 and in Figures, 3 and 4.Thetool vis then withdrawn fromv the duct, the partially formed conduitsection inverted and the opposite end operated upon bythe same or asimilar tool, preferablyby atool suchl as that shown in Figures 5, 6','7 and 8, the operation being substantially the same as that abovedescribed except that an interior rather than an" exterior portion ofthe ceramic material at the end of the extrudedlength is removed so thatthe resultant eifect is as shown at the left-hand side of Figure 2 andin Figurev 6. During either or both of the forming operations a core ormandrel-like supporting member may be inserted into the opposite-'end ofthe extruded length to assist in maintaining and supporting Vit inproper position and preventing undesirable The'eiect of the toolis -toremove a generally annular portion interiorly of the end of thelextruded length, as above mentioned, the outwardly projecting portionof the head 4' having a iiat under surface cooperating with theremainco'opera- After the ends of the respectivev sections have beenshaped, vthe sections are burned-in1the usual manner to produce finishedconduitv sections, as is usual inthe art.

The forming ofthe ends'of the sections may be accomplished in variousdifferent ways, such, for example, as simply by a pressing and deform-Ving operation ywhich is possible on account of the plastic condition ofthe material, but I find it more satisfactory to use more or lesspointed shaping devices which substantially cut into thematerial andshave off ribbon-like elongated strips as the tool is rotated and movedlongie tudinally of the extruded length. Although I prefer to guide thetool internally of the conduit section by means-of theV duct wall,thevtool may be guided otherwise, such, for example, as by the outersurface of the section, particularly when round sections are being made.

The invention is equally applicable to single duct and multi-ductconduit, the end of the sec:l

tion atY each` duct being formed in the manner explained. The inventionis further applicable to curved or twisted sections, and in fact thevparticular form of the section is immaterial, as' vwill be appreciated.The termsV conduit section and conduit length and similar expressions asused in the claims are not to be construedv as being limited to conduitsections Whose axes are straight lines, but'also comprehend Asections ofother shapes.

The invention is not limited to the production of conduit sections ofceramic material, but

in its broader aspects is equally adapted for` use with other materials,plastic and non-plastic, in various forms.

In my copending application Serial No. 545,779, iiled of evendateherewith, I have describedy and claimed the conduit and conduitsections aswell as themethods of making the same which are A to engagewithin a duct in the conduit section for guiding the forming apparatus,said portion being guidable solely by the conduit sectionitself,

and a second portion connected with the first for shaping an end of theconduit section upon guided movement of the forming apparatus rela# Ytive to the duct.

the scope ofthe follow-V 2. Forming "apparatus, comprising ad-generally`rcylindrical guide portion adapted for insertion into a conduit'ductfor guiding the'forming ap#- paratus relatively to .suchV duct, saidcylindricalV `guide portion being guidable'solely within said Vconduitduct, and shaping means connected with such guide portion and effectiven upon relativel movement 'of the forming apparatus and conduit forshaping an end of the conduit adjacent'the/ 3. ,Formingapparatuacomprising a rotatable body having a portion for guiding itfor'generally planar rotatable movement relatively tol a conduitsection, said portion being guidablesolely by ,theconduit sectionitself,and means carried by the body and eiective for cutting away an annu'.lar portion of the conduit section upon generally apparatus rotatablemovement of the forming relatively thereto. ,Y e

4. Forming apparatus, comprising a rotatable member having means forguiding it for generally rotatable movement relatively toa conduitsec-.j tion, and a series of inclined cutters extending generallyparallelto `the plane of rotation-of the rotatable member and spacedabout the rotatable v `member for shaping an end of the` conduitvsection upon generally rotatable movement of the formingapparatusrelatively thereto. l 5. A forming tool comprising a head, said havingopenings therein,and cutting members connected with the .head andextending downwardly and angularly therefrom generally below suchopenings. i 1

6. A formingv tool comprising a generauy ro.. .11 f

tatable head, a generally cylindrical guide member yextendingVtherefrom, and a series of inclined strip metal ShapersY extending fromsaid head,

spaced circumferentially thereof, and. disposed generally about saidguide member. l Y 7. A forming ftool comprisinga generally -ro' tatablehead having a guiding surface, saidvsurface having circumferentiallyspaced openings therein, said headfhaving connected therewith andextending substantiallyV centrally of said openings a generallycylindricalguide member, and ar series 'of Shapers extending from' saidhead generally about vsaid guide member. i

8, Forming apparatus ,for shaping an end of Aa conduit section,comprising a` guidecooperable with the conduit section for `rotatably"guiding head' ysubstantially opposite said openings'and disposed the'forming'apparatus' and bearing "against said paratus is eieetedbythe'section itself, and means connected with the guide for removingaportion of the conduit section `uponrotationvjof the form-V section sothat the guiding ofthe `forming apf K

